Hull begins Aussie recruitment drive

Reinforcements have been sent by English Super League club Hull for their Down Under recruitment drive - but it may be too late to sign Penrith backrower Tony Puletua.

Hull chief executive James Rule has joined chairperson and part-owner Kath Hetherington in Australia as they attempt to lure Puletua, Dragons centre Matt Cooper and Canberra halfback Michael Dobson to England.

They will be in the country for two weeks talking to NRL players and raising the club's profile.

But Puletua's manager Allan Gainey said on Tuesday his client was bound for St Helens if Hull "didn't get their finger out".

Gainey said he hoped to announce a Saints deal as soon as this week.

"I haven't met with anyone from Hull and we are very close to completing a respectable deal with St Helens," Gainey said.

"They (Hull) are going to have to pull their finger out very quickly if they are serious.

"If I don't hear anything from them in the next 24 hours by the end of the week I will have this all tied up."

Puletua is off contract at the end of 2009 but the Panthers have indicated the former Kiwi international will be released if he wants.

The Raiders have hinted that they will let the off-contract Dobson leave for England if Hull comes calling.

Hull coach Peter Sharp has targeted Dobson as a replacement for his injured playmaker Richard Horne.

"He's looking around over there so he's got to come back and talk to us and let us know," Canberra chief executive Don Furner said of Dobson.

"As far as I know he has received interest but no offers.

"If he can get himself a good deal over there we might look at letting him go but I have to talk to the coach about that."